Social Issue

There are approximately 12 million people working in the Philippine’s agricultural sector and it is estimated that over 35% live below the country’s poverty threshold. Many farmers are unable to access or afford high-quality farm inputs and training to improve productivity. This results in low annual yields and a perpetual cycle of poverty for millions of rural households.

Our Response

Since 2014, Netri has been collaborating with Kennemer Foods International, Inc (KFI), a Philippine company, founded in 2010, specializing in the cultivation, sourcing and marketing of high quality agricultural crops, mainly fermented cocoa beans, purchased from smallholder farmers.

Through its “growership program”, KFI is dedicated to increasing the yields and incomes of smallholder farmers by providing them with comprehensive support through its growership program. This includes access to financing, technical assistance and a guaranteed market for their crops. Since 2018, it has diversified into other crops, mainly bananas.

Expected Social Impact

Kennemer currently has more than 20,000 registered farmers who are counting on productivity gains and market access for their products. As for Netri’s allocation, we estimate that this loan will enable KFI to provide technical assistance to more than 300 farmers per year to help them improve the quality of their production and to purchase the production of 60% of them (186), assuring them a reliable market at fair prices.